I took a rather circuitous route to becoming a marketing professor. In college I studied physics, which I loved, but which I ultimately determined was unlikely to hold my interest for the next 40 years. Before returning to graduate school, I worked several jobs that had very little to do with marketing (computer programming, technical writing, proton induced x-ray emission-based trace element analysis using a Van de Graaff proton accelerator—you know, as people do…). I also worked some jobs that were at least somewhat related to marketing (web design and consulting, working for a political campaign).
After a lot of research and introspection, I ultimately decided that the topics that really interested me the most were those related to how people make choices. This realization led me to Northwestern to study marketing. Which led me here. It doesn’t make for a very succinct backstory, I know, but there it is.
I am the proud father of five young children, which means that I spend much of my time exhausted and slightly rumpled. It also means I have some cover for my unabashed enthusiasm for Legos and Spongebob Squarepants.
Academic Positions
Associate Professor of Marketing 2014 – present
Assistant Professor of Marketing, 2008 – 2014
Goizueta Business School, Emory University
Education
Ph.D., Marketing, June 2008
Minor: Psychology
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
B.S., Applied Physics, December 1999
Emphasis: Computer Science; Minors: English, Communications and Mathematics
Brigham Young University
Esoterica
I enjoy comedy, both consuming and producing. Over the years, I have published short humor pieces in print and online (see here, here, here, and here for some samples), and written and performed sketch and stand-up comedy in comedy clubs and on college campuses across the country. Though I’m mostly retired from comedy at this point, I still sneak out and perform at the occasional open-mic when my schedule allows.
I have never run a marathon and have no intention of ever doing so.